So, I’ve owned reptiles before but never a snake (all of my other reptiles are insectivores). This little cutie belongs to my daughter, and she’s named him Nagini after her love for HP.
We brought him home on Sat. Sept. 19 and left him alone for a week to acclimate. He weighed 148g and was estimated to be 6-8 months old. When we fed him a thawed adult mouse on Sept. 26 (1 week later), he “sniffed” at the mouse but did not want it. (To be fair, the mouse’s guts had ripped open and I wouldn’t want that sh*t either LOL.) The following Saturday, Oct. 3rd, he ate with no problem. We handled him for the first time the following Wednesday for just a few minutes to minimize stress. Then when we tried to feed him the next Saturday, he had an unsuccessful feed. He struck and coiled around it, but proceeded to wave it around his tank, ultimately dropping it right in his pool 🤦♀️ so we’ve left him alone all week, only bothering him to check husbandry and refill his pool, and he had another unsuccessful feed yesterday. This time he struck and coiled but then dropped it and just sat there staring and flicking his tongue at it. That means he hasn’t eaten since Oct 3rd.
Maybe I’m doing this wrong?? Idk. I’m thawing the mouse in a ziploc bag in the fridge over night, then releasing the air in the bag and putting the bag into 96-100 degree water for 20-30 minutes, dipping the nose in hot water and then offering. I read not to put the mouse directly into the water so it doesn’t get water logged.
I’m worried about him. It always makes me anxious when my reptile babies don’t eat, but this feels different. And my daughter is getting frustrated because she wants to hold him but I’m nervous to let her hold him if he’s already stressed.